The Liga MX Closing Tournament 2022 is about to end in its regular phase, and we are only one day away from knowing who will be the 12 teams that will be present in the Liguilla. The most exciting thing of all at this point in the season is that 10 of the 12 places will be at stake on this last day of competition.
At this time, ten teams have at least secured the playoffs and only two of them have already qualified directly for the final phase of the tournament. Pachuca and Tigres UANL are the two teams that will be directly in this final phase, so eight teams seek to avoid going through the playoff stage that could leave them out of this closing tournament.
The eight teams that are already qualified for at least the playoffs are Puebla, Atlas, America, Cruz Azul, Chivas, Monterrey, Necaxa and Atlético San Luis.
Six teams still have a chance to be among the playoff spots, León, Pumas, Mazatlán, Toluca, Santos Laguna, and Tijuana. On Day 17 there will be several matches that will determine the fate of each of the teams that manage to qualify.
Liga MX Matchday 17: Atlas vs. Tigres UANL
When: Saturday, April 30 at 08:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Atlas +145 / Tigres UANL +210 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +210
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / Fox Sports / TUDN / DAZN
The emotions of the regular phase of the Liga MX Clausura 2022 Tournament are coming to an end and, on matchday 17 we will have a great game between two teams that are at the top of the standings and, although one of them is already qualified for the final phase of the Liguilla, it wants to close with a victory this regular season. This match will be between Atlas and Tigres UANL, which will be next Saturday, April 30, 2022, at the Jalisco Stadium, home of Atlas.
Atlas arrives at this last day with the possibility of staying with one of the two remaining places in the final phase of the Liguilla, since, by achieving a victory they would reach 29 points and thus their direct classification. Atlas comes with the push of having achieved an excellent victory against Toluca with a score of 4-2 in their last game.
On the other hand, we have Tigres UANL, one of the teams that is called to fight for the championship of this Closing Tournament and that is one of the two classified directly to the final phase of the Liguilla. Currently, Tigres is facing the worst moment of the season for them, since they arrive at this final day with a streak of two consecutive losses, the last one against reborn America, with a score of 0-2.
Atlas vs. Tigres UANL Betting Pick: Atlas
Update
Atlas secured its place in the final phase of the Liguilla of this Closing Tournament 2022, after drawing with a score of 1-1 with Tigres UANL. With this result, the current Mexican Soccer Champion secured third place in the competition.
With 27 points, the team coached by Diego Cocca will prepare for the next Liguilla, but first, they will have to correct certain aspects of the game that they showed in this match since they had several clear scoring chances that they could not materialize.
At all times the figure to follow was Jairo. Encouragement, and even a minute of applause just at minute 20 ‘, as his number, and the young man from Atlas responded with the goal of the pass to the Liguilla directly. Tigres arrived at the Jalisco Stadium with different problems, several casualties due to injury and suspension, and although they had a great line-up, they could not win and added their third game in a row without a victory.
We all expected a match full of many emotions, and it did not disappoint, from the beginning, both teams had clear scoring chances that they could not take advantage of to put their teams ahead on the scoreboard.
It was at minute 54’ when Torres found himself with the ball outside the area in a pass from Edyairth Ortega, and between 3 Tigres players, he shot with his skillful leg to beat Nahuel Guzmán and make it 1-0. Later, Atlas had many more chances to define the match, but they did not succeed and the same match took its toll on them, since, in minute 90+2 through a penalty, Nicolas López equalized the scoreboard.
Result: Atlas (1) – (1) Tigres UANL
Liga MX Matchday 17: Tijuana vs. Monterrey
When: Saturday, April 30 at 08:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Tijuana +500 / Monterrey -181 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +320
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / Fox Sports / TUDN / DAZN
Another very decisive game and one that we are sure will be very exciting, will be the one between Tijuana and Monterrey on matchday 17 of Liga MX. Although it is the last day and, in any other league in the world, the main positions would already be defined, Liga MX has accustomed us to saving the best for last.
Tijuana is going through an extremely complicated situation in this final stretch of the regular season. Although they still have options to qualify for the Playoffs of the Liguilla, they do not depend on themselves to achieve it, since they need a combination of results to be able to access this privilege. Tijuana is coming off a painful draw against Querétaro with a score of 2-2.
On the other hand, we have Monterrey, a team that has been in decline in the last few weeks of the season and, therefore, right now it is only aspiring to keep the place in the playoffs, after fighting directly with Puebla, Tigres, and Pachuca, for the first 4 places in the table. Monterrey comes from losing its last match against Pachuca, with a terrible result of 0-3.
Tijuana vs. Monterrey Betting Pick: Monterrey
Update
Monterrey managed to put an end to its losing streak of three games without victory by beating Tijuana 2-0 at the BBVA Stadium, with goals from Maxi Meza and Vincent Janssen, in what was the last day of the regular tournament of the Clausura 2022 of Liga MX. Thanks to this result, Monterrey is assured to play the playoff game at home to continue dreaming of being in the next Liguilla that is about to start.
Monterrey had no problem dominating the game from start to finish, however, they were met by Tijuana goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco, who made up to five key saves to prevent his team from being crushed.
Jona collaborated in Monterrey’s first goal by failing to block a shot from the near post by Maxi Meza, who broke the losing streak of three games without scoring a goal. While in the second goal there was another negative streak that was cut since the Dutchman Janssen had 1148 minutes without scoring a goal.
Although Monterrey finished level on points with several teams in fourth place, they did not manage to gain direct access to the Liguilla.
Result: Tijuana (0) – (2) Monterrey
Liga MX Matchday 17: Cruz Azul vs. America
When: Saturday, April 30 at 10:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Cruz Azul +400 / Atlético San Luis -136 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +265
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / Fox Sports / TUDN / DAZN
Without a doubt, this Classic between America vs. Cruz Azul will be a key game so that any of the two teams that get the 3 points with this victory, will only depend on other results to know if they get the direct pass to the Liguilla or will access throughout the playoff where its rival will have the same options to qualify for the quarterfinals. This match will be next Saturday, April 30, 2022, at the Azteca Stadium.
Without a doubt, this match is the highlight of this final day of the 2022 Liga MX Closing Tournament and has the additional ingredient that America has been reborn after an extremely bad start to the tournament, where it could not get out of the pit of the standings and is now fighting to get a direct place in the final phase of the Liguilla. America is in fifth place in the table of positions and, if they achieve this victory, they only have to hope that Puebla or Atlas do not win in their last game to achieve the qualification.
On the other hand, Cruz Azul has had a very regular tournament, playing soccer at a high level, but in the last weeks of the championship, their offensive game has failed them when defining the matches and this has been their Achilles heel, so they have not been able to qualify for the Liguilla. Cruz Azul has just lost its last match against Atlético San Luis, with a score of 0-1, a result that no one expected.
Cruz Azul vs. America Betting Pick: America
Update
A couple of months ago, not even the most optimistic of Club America fans thought that their team would qualify directly for the Liguilla, after the dismal start to the tournament, but Fernando Ortiz came to the bench as the new coach and restored their hunger to win, and if although their streak of consecutive victories was stopped against Cruz Azul, the 0-0 draw put them directly into the Final Phase of the Liguilla.
America simply could not bring down the wall of Cruz Azul. Even though there were few scoring chances, America failed to take advantage and had to settle for a goalless draw.
The first 45 minutes showed a slight dominance on the part of the locals, however, it was only about ball control, since the few approaches to the rival area they had were completely stopped by the Cruz Azul defense, or ended with poor shots.
The script would not change in the second half of the match, and in the first minute, America would appear again in the Cruz Azul area, with a new header from Valdés. Although America tried to finish so many clear scoring chances, they were unable to beat the solid defense put up by La Maquina Cementera.
With this result, America secures, with 26 points, fourth place in the general table of Liga MX, qualifying directly for the final phase of the Liguilla, accompanying Pachuca, Tigres and Atlas, while Cruz Azul, with 25 points settles in 8th place.
Result: Cruz Azul (0) – (0) America
Liga MX Matchday 17: Toluca vs. Leon
When: Sunday, May 01 at 09:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Toluca +440 / Leon -166 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +320
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / Fox Sports / TUDN / DAZN
Finally, we close these predictions for matchday 17 of the Liga MX with the great game between Toluca and Leon, two teams that have not yet assured their presence in the playoffs for the next Liguilla, so they will go out to play a kill or die game to look for the 3 points that give him peace of mind. This match will be played next Sunday, May 1, 2022, at the Leon Stadium.
Toluca could have been better placed in the standings since it was one of the teams that had started the season with a very good level of play, but its last days have been disappointing, so much so that, in its last 8 games, they have a record of 2 wins and 3 draws, being their last 3 games, 3 losses. Toluca comes from losing its last game against Atlas, with a score of 2-4.
On the other hand, we have Leon, another team that was also called to be among the top 4 places in the standings but has had a few weeks to forget, where they have lost many important points, and now they are fighting to stay within the first 12 places in the standings. Leon is currently ranked #11 with a record of 5 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses.
Leon vs. Toluca Betting Pick: Leon
Update
Toluca and León played more than pride tonight. In the last game of the Clausura 2022 Regular Phase, both teams gave us a fair of goals that ended in a last-minute tie by León with a lofty score of 4-4.
With just 37 minutes on the clock, both teams had already offered a goal festival with six goals in total, three each. One of the best first times in the current Liga MX tournament.
Ian González, with a great reception, shot Rodolfo Cota from below in the 13th minute to open the scoring. Then Víctor Dávila tied the game just 5 minutes later. Toluca played a baseline pass and Ángel Mena broke it and with a lobbed shot made it 2-1 for León (23′).
Leo Fernández with a shot outside the area leveled the game again in the 25th minute. Osvaldo Rodríguez, trying to clear a dangerous pass, put the ball in for an own goal in the 32nd minute.
Jean Meses made it 3-3 in the 36th minute. Alexis Canelo, with a header, but then came the fourth for Toluca in the 58th minute. Jaine Barreiro shot from outside the area and hit the ball against the post in the 90th minute. The referee scored at the first opportunity, advanced position, but the VAR considered the goal as good.
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